The G7 summit and 7 places in Cornwall
The G7 Summit will take place on 11-13 June 2021; it will be held in Carbis Bay, a seaside resort and village located in west Cornwall. Other parts of the region will also play a key role in the Summit, including Falmouth and neighbouring St Ives. Carbis Bay lies one mile southeast of St Ives, on the western coast of St Ives Bay, on the Atlantic coast. Having recently visited Cornwall myself and in light of the current international travel restrictions, I’d like to share my tips for a road trip to the westernmost part of the South West Peninsula of the island of Great Britain.
I would recommend following in my footsteps and staying in St Ives, a charming seaside town on the western shore of St Ives Bay. From there, you can drive to Land’s End, Mousehole and Penzance, but also to Falmouth, Truro and Chapel Porth Beach.
1. St Ives
St Ives is a charming seaside town on the north coast of Cornwall. It’s a popular holiday destination, as evidenced by the number of visitors and hospitality enterprises.
St Ives has also been popular with many artists, including Dame Barbara Hepworth, who settled there in the 1930s. Nowadays, it is home to the Tate St Ives, a branch of the Tate Gallery, as well as to the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Both are worth a visit (admission costs £10.5 and £8 respectively). Located on Porthmeor, a large surfing beach, Tate St Ives features works by British and international artists, including Pablo Picasso. The 5th-floor cafe offers panoramic views over St Ives, Porthmeor Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.
The town is also popular with seagulls. Although I had read the sign warning the unsuspected visitors to shield their food because ‘ice cream and chip thieves operate in this area’, I was surprised to see my fish and chips being snatched away right in front of my eyes ‘or rather my camera lens). Fortunately, the harbour is surrounded by cafes, restaurants and take-aways (offering a good range of options from fish and chips to Cornish pasties, and from ice cream to crepes), so nobody remained hungry at the end of the day.
Personally, my favourite place in St Ives was the aptly named Harbour View House, a guesthouse with a cafe/bar overlooking the town’s harbour. It was my go-to place for breakfast. I loved both the atmosphere and the panoramic views that it offered.
2. Land’s End
From St Ives, drive to Land’s End, the westernmost point of mainland Cornwall and England (but not of Great Britain or the United Kingdom). I would recommend taking the B3306 road, not the fastest route, but the most scenic (approx. 40 minutes). If you have time, consider taking a few breaks to visit some of the villages on your way to Land’s End.
At Land’s End, park your car (£7), and then follow the coastal path towards the neighbouring village Sennen. You can then treat yourself to a traditional Cornish pasty filled with steak and vegetables and/or ice cream.
3. Mousehole
From Land’s End, continue to Mousehole, a charming fishing village on the shore of Mount’s Bay. The drive to Mousehole takes about 25 minutes. There are several places to eat/drink around the picturesque harbour.
4. Penzance
Penzance, the westernmost town in Cornwall, is only a 10-minute drive from Mousehole. It is not the prettiest Cornish town, and I wouldn’t recommend spending much time there. Walk on Chapel Street, where the Egyptian House, a grade I listed building, built in the style of Egyptian Revival architecture, is located.
5. Falmouth
The next day, drive to Falmouth, a seaside town on the south coast of Cornwall (a 45-minute drive from St Ives). Walk on High, Market, Church and Arwenack Streets, home to many charming cafes. Then head to the harbour, the third deepest natural harbour in the world.
6. Truro
Afterwards, drive to Truro. This is the administrative centre of Cornwall, as well as its only city (in England, the city status is granted by the monarch and is traditionally given to towns with diocesan cathedrals). It is not, however, the largest town in Cornwall (St Austell is the most populous Cornish town, albeit not a city). It is a 20-minute drive from Falmouth (and a 35-minute drive from St Ives).
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built between 1880 and 1910 to a Gothic Revival design and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom with three spires. The other two are the Lichfield Cathedral and St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Not far from the Cathedral, there’s Charlotte’s Tea House, located on the second floor of the Coinage Hall, a 19th-century grade II listed building in the heart of Truro. It offers delicious cakes and beautiful views of the Cathedral.
7. Chapel Porth Beach
You can then drive to Chapel Porth Beach, on the north coast of Cornwall (a 20-minute drive from Truro, or a 35-minute drive from St Ives). This is a wild beach, popular with surfers, and famous for the hedgehog, ice cream smothered with clotted ice cream and rolled in honey-roasted hazelnuts. Simply delicious!
How to get to Cornwall & St Ives
To drive from London to St Ives takes about 5 hours (approx. 300 miles). Alternatively, you can take the train to Penzance or fly to Newquay (a 50-minute drive from St Ives) or Exeter (a 2-hour drive from St Ives).
When and how long to visit Cornwall
The weather in the UK is predictably unpredictable and there are no guarantees it will be on your side (even in the summer). Having said that, May and June are possibly the best months, mostly due to the days being the longest.
Three days would allow you to visit all the places mentioned above (weather permitting, of course).
Accommodation in St Ives
Hotels in St Ives can be rather over-priced, and in hindsight, I would’ve rather stayed in a cottage than a hotel. There are plenty of choices available.
Further reading
If you’re looking for ideas and tips for UK-based holidays, check out my following posts:
Leeds: 9 tips by a (former) local
Explore the Isle of Man in 3 days
Alex
(the soon-to-be-Traveling-again-Psychiatrist)